CHAPTER 92 – LEGENDARY MAKINGS
Axion looked up and put his hand in front of his eyes as the light shined down upon his face. It made him feel rejuvenated and refueled. The enemies surrounding Axion caught in the light fell worthlessly to the ground as their flesh burnt to dust. No adversary dared to go near him in fear of that much light, not even Admiral Zorrowfold.
He gazed up into the sky at the figures approaching him. Axion saw unmistakable bearers of flame flying for him. He realized now that the beam of sunlight he stood in was also a landing trajectory. Axion wondered if there was any hope left in his heart to believe help had finally arrived.
Meanwhile, just above, Mitakahn, still riding the fire-feathered Phoenix, looked around at the destruction of his kingdom. How did it ever come to this? Everything he had done to prevent this from happening and from up here it looked like it was too late. His heart’s compassion burned the Phoenix’s flame ever brighter. The Phoenix channeled the surge of energy and shot out a mighty blast of flames, creating an expanding ring of fire around Axion. The remaining enemies inside the ring burned to the ground and the sunlight spread.
Eberlyn landed and Axion’s eyes shined wide with astonishment.
“You came back.”
“As promised, my love.”
The girl he last left had returned in a brand new form, in brilliant form. He was in true amazement, and it only furthered his love for her. Mitakahn landed shortly after on the Phoenix as the rest of his company followed. Axion stood amongst the landings in suspenseful awe, his mouth slightly open. His lips dry. His arms tired and fingers dangling. Too overwhelmed to really move.
He slowly attempted to be in the moment. Five titan birds stood around the Phoenix, reflecting its brilliant spectrum of light across the city with their chrome masks, burning up random legions of darksiders; accompanied by their riders, all of which on-looking the royal reunion. Axion only had eyes for his girl, and her beautiful face. He met her radiating gaze and walked up to her. He was beaten and tired, she illuminated his spirit. Eberlyn saw her beloved fighting for what he believed in. Axion hugged her.
Anilithyìstad suddenly jumped through the flames on horseback, breaking them long enough for Lord Mercinestor and Commander Adora to follow through. Anilithyìstad slid his hand into a pouch on the saddle, pulled out the artifact he had retrieved from the Citadel, and dismounted his horse in front of Axion. In majestic poise, Axion looked down the line at Cel’a and his uncles.
“I am ready.”
“Then there is one thing left to do.”
The prince dropped to one knee and Anilithyìstad placed the Crown of Pride on his head. Everyone looked on at the Changing of the Crown, even Queen Adyána from high in the Throne Room above, made sure to witness her son’s infinite glory. The crimson and gold crown shimmered in new life. Its crimson tides caught the fires of war and legend all around them, forever staining it with Axion’s era, as it had done for every king in the Lion Kingdom’s history. It was a perfect fit.
King Axion stood up and pulled Eberlyn back on his hip. She handed him the Sword of Heroes. He grabbed the cold iron handle and held the magnificent sword high in the air and kissed Eberlyn, wetting his lips with hers.
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The power coursed in from the sword upon his first touch, burning into his fingers, through his veins, and surged for his heart. His soul exploded with cosmic spirit and unyielding power. Its raw energy became him. The panels of ruby crystal on the sword ignited in a passionate explosion of pure red fire. It wrapped the sword in a wonderful fury of flame. Everyone marveled at the sight of undisputed glory.
Mitakahn was finally relieved. He did it; he solved the puzzle of his dreams, the games of the gods, and saved his kingdom. All along, the last missing piece was his brother…Axion.
It was always Axion.
He was the future of the Lion Kingdom nation, and Mitakahn would be his advisor; just as their father wanted it to be. It was then that Mitakahn realized that this fate was no different in the end. Even without his father next to him, he knew somewhere…Theomitus was still looking over all of them, pushing the pieces back together, trying to make it all right. Together, the two princes were unstoppable. Mitakahn looked on as Axion was summoned to behold the galactic power of the gods.
The fire around the sword surrounded Axion and sunk into his body. The burning sensation that came from the melding was turned inside-out, it did not hurt. It felt right to him. This was what he was waiting for, what he was praying for. Seldom do the gods answer the prayers of ordinary men, but on this fateful day, his brother brought them before him, and they blessed Axion with unlimited mercy. The sword was heavy and yet sat perfectly on his hand. He looked closely at it through the fire as it entangled the both of them, forming a symbiotic bond.
Axion wanted to cringe in ecstatic exuberance as the particles of his very being combined with the sword. His humanity altered and redefined, floating on the brink. The metal of the sword was heated to a liquid-like substance. He was no longer completely human, but merged with the existence of the celestial, a champion of the gods.
Axion found rather quickly that he could manipulate the shape and structure of the sword. How? He wondered. Then he saw his control over all the flames.
The transformation was complete. The very fabric of Axion’s being was merged with the ever-expanding entity of the Crucifire Sword. Axion seemed relatively the same, but he was entirely different. His comprehension curbed his apprehension, his heart felt like it had aged a thousand years in a single flash but with more energy and vigor than ever.
He returned the FireSword to its original shape. But for now, he would have no idea of his radical conversion and how it abrasively unlocked his boon from the Ignaleos Cor.
It was time to see what this newfound legacy could do. He dipped his other hand into the fire. Expectedly, it did not burn him. He scooped out a fireball and threw it forward. The fireball exploded into the ground on impact, taking out the footing of several darksiders outside the ring.
The King looked back at his brother and smiled.
King Axion walked out of the ring with complete momentum over the moment, phasing through the firewall, and with his first slice, blew a furious tidal wave of flames into the enemy lines. He caught all the other courtyard fires with his wave as it rolled out.
There was Admiral Zorrowfold, still standing in the darkness, waiting for Axion. Mitakahn stood behind his brother, burdened by all the death around him; his kin, mercilessly slain, their blood painting the streets of Zepathorum.
Axion knew who was responsible for all this bloodshed. He pushed his hand and sent forth a wall of fire, straight into Zorrowfold. The wall ensnared him, pulling him back towards Axion. ZorrowFold got a close-up look at the legendary blade. Axion raised the fire from the sword and held out his free hand, “You should never have come here.”
Admiral ZorrowFold screamed in frustration, in humiliation, in defeat. The king lifted his hand and closed his fist, commanding the flames to burn the admiral alive. Not even ash remained of the great fallen Admiral of the South.
His vanguard witnessed the fall of their admiral and fled. But King Axion was not finished with them. He took a heavy swing with the FireSword, and another tidal wave of flames spread around the entire courtyard. It followed the retreating darksiders trying to make their escape.